Clinical rotations in nursing education provide nursing students with the opportunity to experience real-world professional nursing practice. As I explore the option of becoming a clinical nurse educator, I begin to reflect on my own strengths, attributes, and experiences. In order to be an effective clinical nurse educator, I feel it is important to have a strong foundation in clinical practice as well as a solid and diverse knowledge base. Nurse educators must have the ability to create experiential and meaningful learning opportunities as well as display their passion for the nursing profession and for teaching.
Having over 9 years of clinical nursing experience has provided me the opportunity to care for a wide variety of patient populations. Working on a medical/surgical floor for 3 years provided me with experience in managing the care of the post-operative patient, development, and execution of patient education, and discharge planning among other things. The next 6 years of my career has been spent in the emergency department in various roles such as triage, trauma and charge nurse. My competence in leadership is confirmed by my most recent position as assistant nurse manager, as well as my completion of a nursing leadership internship, being appointed as the ED unit council staff liaison and working to help develop an ED nursing mentorship program as an extension of our nurse residency program.
As a nurse educator, I feel it is my responsibility to assure quality educational experiences that will prepare nursing students to work in a diverse, ever-changing health care environment. Creating a safe, innovative clinical environment will allow students to build upon their knowledge and comprehension as well as gain self-confidence in their ability to provide patient care. Perhaps my favorite aspect of my career in nursing has been my ability to precept graduate nurses as well as experienced nurses who are transitioning to the ED or advancing to clinical areas such as triage, trauma and charge nurse. Being a preceptor to dozens of nurses has given me insight for the various ways in which students learn as well as the importance of formative feedback. Though I feel I have a great foundation, I am learning how extremely important it is to incorporate a variety of learning strategies in order to be an effective teacher and keep students engaged in learning.
I hope to be a valuable resource as students begin to apply knowledge to practice. I will strive to be a clinical instructor that is not overbearing but highly involved in assisting students to perfect their technique; whether it is IV insertion, medication passes or providing end of life care. I will ask questions throughout their clinical day that will promote the development of clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, and critical thinking skills. I will also use such strategies as simulations, unfolding or continuing case studies, and reflective journaling. Holding post-conferences will allow students the opportunity to reflect on and share their clinical experience with others.
Additionally, being in a position of leadership has helped me to gain insights on beliefs, values, and behaviors that are necessary for portraying me as a positive role model. I consider myself to be open-minded, easy-going and approachable. I believe in establishing relationships with my students in order to develop a mutual respect. I am deeply invested in the success of my students and strive to be encouraging, supportive and motivational as they begin to develop nursing skills and real-world clinical practice. I am a very patient person and feel as though I am sensitive to student anxieties. I am both accepting and understanding that students will make mistakes and am not afraid to share an embarrassing or funny story of when I too made a mistake. Providing students with timely, constructive and specific feedback will also help to foster their growth.
Just as I was once a novice bedside nurse, I will begin my journey as a novice nurse educator. I do not expect my transition to a role as a nurse educator to be easy. I am accepting of the challenge and understand that it will be a learning process. As I continue to grow in my nursing educator role I hope to continue to improve upon effective communication skills, such as breaking down content in a down-to-earth manner, as well as developing better methods of organization and preparedness. I am excited to begin this new journey of professional growth and development.
Having over 9 years of clinical nursing experience has provided me the opportunity to care for a wide variety of patient populations. Working on a medical/surgical floor for 3 years provided me with experience in managing the care of the post-operative patient, development, and execution of patient education, and discharge planning among other things. The next 6 years of my career has been spent in the emergency department in various roles such as triage, trauma and charge nurse. My competence in leadership is confirmed by my most recent position as assistant nurse manager, as well as my completion of a nursing leadership internship, being appointed as the ED unit council staff liaison and working to help develop an ED nursing mentorship program as an extension of our nurse residency program.
As a nurse educator, I feel it is my responsibility to assure quality educational experiences that will prepare nursing students to work in a diverse, ever-changing health care environment. Creating a safe, innovative clinical environment will allow students to build upon their knowledge and comprehension as well as gain self-confidence in their ability to provide patient care. Perhaps my favorite aspect of my career in nursing has been my ability to precept graduate nurses as well as experienced nurses who are transitioning to the ED or advancing to clinical areas such as triage, trauma and charge nurse. Being a preceptor to dozens of nurses has given me insight for the various ways in which students learn as well as the importance of formative feedback. Though I feel I have a great foundation, I am learning how extremely important it is to incorporate a variety of learning strategies in order to be an effective teacher and keep students engaged in learning.
I hope to be a valuable resource as students begin to apply knowledge to practice. I will strive to be a clinical instructor that is not overbearing but highly involved in assisting students to perfect their technique; whether it is IV insertion, medication passes or providing end of life care. I will ask questions throughout their clinical day that will promote the development of clinical judgment, clinical reasoning, and critical thinking skills. I will also use such strategies as simulations, unfolding or continuing case studies, and reflective journaling. Holding post-conferences will allow students the opportunity to reflect on and share their clinical experience with others.
Additionally, being in a position of leadership has helped me to gain insights on beliefs, values, and behaviors that are necessary for portraying me as a positive role model. I consider myself to be open-minded, easy-going and approachable. I believe in establishing relationships with my students in order to develop a mutual respect. I am deeply invested in the success of my students and strive to be encouraging, supportive and motivational as they begin to develop nursing skills and real-world clinical practice. I am a very patient person and feel as though I am sensitive to student anxieties. I am both accepting and understanding that students will make mistakes and am not afraid to share an embarrassing or funny story of when I too made a mistake. Providing students with timely, constructive and specific feedback will also help to foster their growth.
Just as I was once a novice bedside nurse, I will begin my journey as a novice nurse educator. I do not expect my transition to a role as a nurse educator to be easy. I am accepting of the challenge and understand that it will be a learning process. As I continue to grow in my nursing educator role I hope to continue to improve upon effective communication skills, such as breaking down content in a down-to-earth manner, as well as developing better methods of organization and preparedness. I am excited to begin this new journey of professional growth and development.